building codes, (St. Louis, Springfield, Northwoods: real estate, house, rental)

[Indy4570]

Christian county just approved building codes in unincorporated areas. What this means is a little bit a freedom in that county is now gone

I believe any builder should use common sense. For $7.95 any buyer can educate themselves on construction basics by purchasing a book at a Lowe's or Home depot. I am not an advocate off shoddy construction as proponents of building codes label any opponent. What I am talking about is a structure that when started becomes a landslide that never stops!

In Indiana you must have a permit to put a roof on a doghouse! You must have a permit to put a fence up! some places go so far as to require a permit to fix a leaking roof or replace a window. Permits cost money and then money feeds the machine that just gets bigger and bigger until a person cannot do anything on his own land without permission!

"Revenue from the planning and zoning department — an estimated $140,000-150,000 a year — will be funneled to the new building department, which will begin generating its own funds through code-associated fees on builder". This is a quote from the News-leader in Springfield. Where does that money come from? Your pockets!

I am more fortunate than most when it comes to possessions that make my life easier. I have a lot of tools that enable me to "do it myself". If I were to sell every tool I own I still could not afford to hire the work I accomplish done by another. This ability to do for myself is a freedom that I cannot enjoy In Michigan or Indiana and many other states in this country.

I for one am saddened by the Christian county voters decision to adopt codes. It will affect the poorest of those that need protection the most. It will benefit the better off with increases in building costs and fees for the bureaucrats. The bankers will make more interest from bigger home loans.It was a win for the fat cats and a loss for the free man. One more reduction in freedom in a country that was founded on the principle of freedom.

This country is in real peril and it seems to be ignored by the mainstream. Many who post here are waiting for homes to sell that do not move. A mortgage company filed for bankruptcy here In NE Indiana yesterday. Personal bankruptcies are at an all time high. Foreclosures are at an all time high. Federal laws have been passed because federal mortgage companies became "property owners" instead of mortgage companies. Every other commercial it seems is about payday loans, credit counseling or bankruptcy attorneys. Ads for "Homes at pennies on the dollar" are rampant,"government auctions!" pervade the back pages of magazines. It is even evident in our entertainment, more and more shows that promise big money...Money...money ...MONEY!!!!

When gas prices get higher and higher everyone stands up and shakes a fist at "Big Oil". Have you ever seen the charts on profits and growth for industry in this country and worldwide? Big oil is there sitting at not number one but number two! Who is number one in making more and more money every year getting fatter and fatter off the fruits of YOUR labor? The Banks!!!! The financial industry has taken a larger slice of the pie in profit than any other and they do the least amount of work for it! Henry Ford said one time that if the American people ever really knew how the banking industry worked there would be riots in the streets.

The Banking industry is going to crush this country into another depression soon if responsible changes are not made. I am not a Liberal but John Kerry mentioned financial industry reform back when he ran for president. Have you heard more than a few mentions of it in this upcoming presidential race? The next time you get a credit card offer read the fine print on the back. They state now that they can raise your interest rate "at any time for any reason" ! Anybody remember back when Roosevelt confiscated any gold bullion owned by private citizens way back in, was it 1933? This situation did not happen by accident, it happened by design. Laws passed in 1913 started it all. Anyone ever ask why your money is controlled by a "private" institution? The Federal Reserve is not part of the Government, it is private.

Parts of Missouri are still free, lets keep it that way! The less fortunate have a right to live in this country. It should not be a crime to live on your own land as YOU see fit, not how the County or the State or the Feds see fit.

When I started this post I was apprehensive because I know how I will look to some here. I made the decision that I do not care what others think, it matters more to me to take a stand for what I think. If others would do the same I for one think the world would be a better place to be.

peace be on you all and may good fortune bless your lives

[MOHIllbillyWoman]

You are so totally correct Indy. I agree with everything you said in your post.

We used to live in Franklin County, up near the St. Louis area, and by the time we moved away they wanted a building permit for just about every little thing one would want to do. We did live far enough back where we just went ahead and did what we wanted without the permits but I am not si sure one could get away with that any more. They wanted a permit for us to build a chicken coop and such. We laughed and went ahead and did it anyway and never had any trouble. But, like I said, where we lived one could not see our house or property without coming up at least a 1/4 mile private road.

Here in Dona Ana County, Las Cruces, NM, one has to have a building permit for anything other than a 10x12 shed or less. In fact, this idiot county has more rules and regulations than even Albuquerque does, and that is saying a lot.

I personally believe all of this is for a purpose though and that is to make it even more where the rich will get richer and the poor will get even more poor and not be able to have or do as they please. Freedom is vanishing from this once great nation of ours and people really need to start seeing that and work hard at trying to get it back.

[Northwoods Voyager]

Okay. I'm going to get in a little trouble here, I know. However, there really are both side to the issue of rules and regulations. To begin with, I wholeheartedly sympathize with Indy. It is his land and he ought to be allowed to do with it as he pleases. Can't do that any more

I know what mohibilly is talking about. In my county, where rules and regs are at a minimum, folks from St. Louis and Franklin counties look to purchase. And the reason? Of course, fewer regs. So, I go to show someone an older 3-4 BR 2BA on a couple of acres in one of the 'backroad' areas. The buyer asks, as we drive by a makeshift dwelling, 'Is that allowed here?'

So those coming from heavily regulated counties don't want it there but they shy away from having a potential neighbor with a 'home' less desirable. Says something about 'bringing down the value'. Do I like rules and regulations? In some cases, definitely. Where I live in a lake subdivision, we do have those hated R & Rs. For a good reason though. No shacks allowed, no tents, no mobiles, etc. This is to allow property values of all here to not decline due to unacceptable buildiing.

Some homes here are worth only $140K, others may go for $240K. Not many home here and only a handful of new construction going up. And, the bank of one newer construction did ask to view the R & Rs. Of course they are not going to lend money for a home if the rest of the place is not 'up to par'.

It is sad to see so many changes. Again, I am not implying that I personally favor all R & Rs, however I do appreciate some of them. You are evidently in a remote part of the county, Indy, and do not see any reason for strict rules in how you conduct your building. I don't either.

This is sometimes a case of "not in my backyard". Not in yours, but in those that come to me from other areas that demand perfection in a house next door, but didn't like it in the area that they come from. It is really a mixed bag out there.

Solution? I am sorry to say that I don't have one. A professor used to tell us we are then part of the problem .

[Boof]

Originally Posted by Indy4570

When I started this post I was apprehensive because I know how I will look to some here. I made the decision that I do not care what others think, it matters more to me to take a stand for what I think. If others would do the same I for one think the world would be a better place to be.

peace be on you all and may good fortune bless your lives

Indy,

Since this isn't the 'Politics' forum, I won't elaborate on what you said, except to say that you make some very valid points, and have hit the nail right on the head!!! Coming from CA with all of their Rules, Regulations, Laws, & Red Tape....DH & I felt the oppression looming down on the 'Less than rich' classes.

For Missouri to follow suit behind CA, IN, MI, etc....would indeed be a grave error. Lets hope that others wake up to what's happening, and choose to 'take a stand'. There is power in numbers.

^^^^^5 Indy for sharing your thoughts on a 'sticky' subject.

Boof

[Lake Junkie]

A subject near and dear to my heart.

And not to sound like a broken record, but coming from CA we were so thrilled to see the freedoms here, and for a while I over-reacted to wanting NO restrictions AT all for ANY reason this side of breaking the law.

But. Can we appreciate moderation?

Stone and Taney Counties do not have building codes. You do need a permit, and it is available with very little red tape and for a very reasonable cost. The only inspections are on your septic system. (And aren't we all glad for that?)
In this area it's all about the reputation of the builder. And there are very good builders building according to some code somewhere...
And there are folks out there building just as cheaply as they possibly can. These areas are being bought up by out of state investors as rentals and quickly becoming "less than desirable"...IYKWIM.

I think there is room for regulation in our lives (Yes! I said it!) because without it, anarchy would soon reign.

Speed limits. Another example.

But only in moderation. I shudder to think about the kind of regulatory madness we all escaped...

[MOHIllbillyWoman]

Originally Posted by Lake Junkie

Can we appreciate moderation?


I think there is room for regulation in our lives (Yes! I said it!) because without it, anarchy would soon reign.

Speed limits. Another example.

But only in moderation. I shudder to think about the kind of regulatory madness we all escaped...

YES, moderation is good.

I am totally afraid that some will copy what all CA has done in many places and that scares the hell out of me. Government normnally goes too far though when it comes to rules and regulations, or they don't do anything. There are not many governmnets out there whpo work in moderation.

[Northwoods Voyager]

Originally Posted by MOHIllbillyWoman

YES, moderation is good.

I am totally afraid that some will copy what all CA has done in many places and that scares the hell out of me. Government normnally goes too far though when it comes to rules and regulations, or they don't do anything. There are not many governmnets out there whpo work in moderation.

Hang on to your hat...'cause what starts out on the west coast and then the east coast , always finds it way to the middle, whether we like it or not. And that's where we are. And whether it's R. & R.s real estate rules, you name it.

[MOHIllbillyWoman]

Originally Posted by Northwoods Voyager

Hang on to your hat...'cause what starts out on the west coast and then the east coast , always finds it way to the middle, whether we like it or not. And that's where we are. And whether it's R. & R.s real estate rules, you name it.

I am afraid that you are correct. OK, I have an idea. We wall up the borders to MO and only let in people who leave things as they are.

[Indy4570]

I have been a builder and I refuse to build anything on my property that is not up to par. I will not skimp on rafters or trusses and in fact I build a little better than "code". But I am building my home, My home and I refuse to skimp. I know what it means to others who are buying, the buyer has a choice to get inspections and whatnot. It is the forced regs that stick in my craw. In a county here in Indiana where more people get their living from working in trailer factories they are being dis-allowed. Mobile homes were the it thing in the sixties, it was a way for people who had less money to have a home and a little pride. Now those people are looked at with disdain. Even a "modular home" is not allowed in some areas. In some areas a "pole barn" is not allowed. A home used to be a place where you raised a family and put down roots, now it is just an "investment" Where are our priorities? Do we want more people on welfare? Or do we want more people to be self sufficient?

It may come down to a war between the haves and the havenots. Is that what we really want? Is that "American" ? Or is that simply economics?

It is a personal choice and I hope we continue to have a "choice", not a mandate. When will it be unacceptable for middle class to live in a home worth less than $100,000 ?

The middle class is rapidly becoming the lower class in this country, is that what we want?

I cannot afford to keep up with the "Joneses". I am moving to a place where I don't have to. Others are moving here to escape what I am talking about, it may be those very people who demand change and turn it into a place much like they tried to escape from.

[Northwoods Voyager]

Indy, you are right on target. The Middle class is just about forgotten. And you have made my point about others not wanting those R.& R's for themselves, but look out, they will do their best to bring with them some of the very things that they are trying to escape from.

This is human nature and until we begin electing local, state, and federal officials that are not greedy, short-sighted and short-minded, this is what we will continue to receive. Politicians are always going to tell us what they think that we want to hear. And then do just the opposite when in power. Again, human nature, only this time the dark side. ( Darth Vader??)

Unfortunately, the 'Joneses' do not even exist any longer. They have been driven down by a society that is now being run by the all-mighty dollar and Dow Jones, etc. You and I and the others, will have to look after ourselves and be more cognizant of what goes on around us. Banks, Federal Reserve, you name it.

I truly do understand where you are 'coming from', if that makes any big difference. You will, on your own, have to fight 'City Hall' and continue to do so. Rally the forces and go guy. Good luck and Bless yas.